Her husband and eldest son have a typical dad-and-son relationship, she said. They love playing video games and swimming, and sometimes the whole family takes part in epic Nerf gun battles around the house.

"We live on laughter," she said.

She knew that it was important for Landon to be formally adopted by Daniel and suspected he might shed "a tear or two," but she had no idea just how emotional he would be.

"Landon says he's just really happy, and very proud that he will get his last name changed to 'Rice,'" she said. "I think it is just a piece of him that was missing, but we had no idea that this would be such a blessing to him!"